Obesity

Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have a negative effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems.

There are many ways in which a person's health in relation to their weight can be classified, but the most widely used method is body mass index (BMI), a person’s weight (in kilograms) divided by the square of his or her height (in meters).

Globally, the WHO estimates that at least 500 million adults (greater than 10%) are obese, with higher rates among women than men. The rates also increase with age. Childhood obesity, on the other hand, is one of the most serious public health challenges of the 21st century. In 2013 the number of overweight children under the age of five, is estimated to be over 42 million (more than 10%).

In Sudan, only 6% of the adults are considered Obese, while children obesity takes 4.2% overall.